Starting and stopping apparatus for internal-combustion engines



May 21, 1929. R. MILLER 1,713,545

STARTING AND STOPPING APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES FiledJuly 27, 1926 I E i 5% @I: pv 5 p i ,B jlj H T if E F y;

I INVENTOR.

QH/J A TTI) EY- Patented May 21, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RALPH MILLER, or ms'ron, rnunsnvama, ASSIGNOB TO iNGEBSOLL-RAND couramr,or .nmsnv our, NEW messy, A con-romr'ron or new messy.

STARTING AND STOPPING APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed July 27,

This invention relates to internalcombustion engines and moreparticularly to startmg and stopping apparatus for internal combustionengines of the reversible type.

In operating internal combustion engines of the reversible t pe it isusually necessary to let them idle after turning off the supply of fueland to wait for them to come to a stop before reversing their directionof operation. This consumes considerable time and wastes the energywhich is stored up in the fly wheel. Furthermore, where there is aplurality of cylinders the compression of air In the cylinders by thepiston does not necessarily tend to stop the engine for, upon the nextstroke of the piston, the compressed air re-expands.

It is an object of this invention to permit the engine to operate as apump to provide 0 a braking action and to utilize ener y of the flywheel to accumulate storage air for starting or other purposes.

Other objects of the invention will be in part obvious and in partpointed out hereinafter.

The invention will be more clearly understood by reference to thedrawing, which shows in longitudinal section an engine and associatedmechanism in longitudinal cross section constructed in accordance withthe invention.

The engine is provided with a cylinder A preferably water jacketedwithin which the piston B is adapted to reciprocate. The en gine asshown is preferably of the solid inection type operating in its cycle inaccordance with the principles more completely described in the patentto William T. Price, issued Nov. 25, 1924, Number 1,517,015, andincludes a head in two parts, the lower part- 0 providing the lower halfof a double conical combustion chamber D and the upper half E formingthe upper half of the combustion chamber. Suitable intake and exhaustvalves F are provided in the upper half E of the combustion head andhave a fixed cycle throughout operation of the engine. Opposed spraynozzles G arearranged to inject fuel into the combustion chamber togenerate pressure for actuating the piston B.

In the lower art of the combustion head C there is provided an apertureH to receive the casing J of the air starting valve which includes a popet ty e valve head K having a stem L hel close by a spring 0 bearing1926. Serial No. 125,219.

against a cap P on the exterior of the eas- 1ng J. The valve stem L isprovided with a spring retainer Q, held in place on the stem by means ofa nut R. Engines of this type are started by compressed air stored forinstance 1n a tank S connected by means of piping T to the interior ofthe valve casing J. The valve U is provided to admit air to unseat thevalve K for depressing the piston B. By this invention means is providedto unseat the valve K when the fuel supply to the engine is cut off, sothat air compressed in the cylinder by the piston B may pass into thereservoir S. To this end there is provided a cylinder V coaxial with thevalve stem L on which there is provided a piston \V in the cylinder V.Air under pressure is supplied to the cylinder V by means of piping Xhaving a controlling valve Y, in this instance hand operated. If thepiston W is depressed the valve K is lifted from its seat and the pistonB reciprocating in the cylinder A pumps air into the valve casing J andpast a check valve Z of any suitable description into a pipe 1) leadingto the reservoir S. The check valve Z is prevented from passing air inthe opposite direction by a spring 0 bearing against the valve Z andheld in place by a plunger d threaded into the casing J and actuating asa guide for the check valve Z.

Air under pressure is prevented from accumulating at the back of thepiston W by an atmospheric vent e at the end of the cylinder V. A guidefor the valve stem L is provided in the form of a plug f threaded intoan aperture g in the casing J. The cap P acts as a head for the cylinderV.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

To start the engine, the valve U is opened which admits air into theinterior of the valve casing J and unseats the valve K. The compressedair in the cylinder depresses the piston B in the usual manner andstarts the engine operatin v If it be desired to stop the en ine forreversing purposes, the fuel supply not shown) to the injection nozzlesG iscut oil and the valve Y is opened. This depresses the piston Wopening the valve K permitting reciprocation of the piston B to force ofair past the valve K into the interior of the casing J and ast the checkvalve Z into the reservoir S. e power thus stored u in compressing airon the alternate upwar strokes in the 110 cylinder A of the four strokecycle type of engine shown is not returned to the piston B since on thesuction stroke of the piston a partial vacuum is formed in thecombustion chamber D which, in addition to the pumping action, retardsthe engine.

Thus by the above construction are accomplished, among others, theobjects hereinbefore referred to;

I claim:

1. A stopping apparatus for internal combustion engines including acylinder, a combustion head for said cylinder, a valve casing having anaperture opening into the cylinder, a valve in said casing, a reservoirhaving pipe connections to said valve casing, means to unseat said valveto receive air compressed in said cylinder into said valve casing andsaid reservoir, and inlet and exhaust valves for the cylinder having afixed cycle throughout operation of the engine.

2. A stopping apparatus for internal combustion engines including acylinder, a combustion head for said cylinder, a valve casing having anaperture opening into the cylinder, a valve in said casing, a reservoirhaving pipe connections to said valve casing, pneumatic means to unseatsaid valve to receive air compressed in said cylinder into said valvecasing and said reservoir, and inlet and exhaust valves for the cylinderhaving a fixed cycle throu hout operation of the engine.

3. 1% starting and stopping apparatus for internal combustion enginescomprising a combustion head for said cylinder, a valve casing extendinginto said combustion head, a valve in said casing controllingcommunication between said combustion head and the interior of saidcasing, a reservoir, a pipe connection from said reservoir to said valvecasing, a valve to control the admission of air from said reservoir tosaid valve casing for starting the engine, a check valve in said valvecasing, and pneumatic means to unseat said first mentioned valve toreceive air compressed in said combustion head into the valve casing andsaid reservoir.

4. A. starting and stopping apparatus for internal combustion enginescomprising a combustion head for said cylinder, a valve casing extendinginto said combustion head, a poppet type valve in said casingcontrolling communication between said combustion head and the interiorof said casing, a reservoir, a pipe connection from said reservoir tosaid valve casing, a valve to control the admission of air from saidreservoir to said valve casing for starting the engine, a check valve insaid valve casing, and pneumatic means to unseat said poppet valve toreceive air compressed in said combustion head into the valve casing andsaid reservoir, said means including a piston on the stem of said poppetvalve and a cylinder formed integrally with said valve casing adapted toreceive air from the reservoir to depress said piston.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

RALPH MILLER.

